Martha Elizabeth Treadway Gooch, 105, of Pike and Lincoln counties died Friday, Aug. 29, 2008 in St. Peters.
Memorial graveside services are scheduled for Friday, Sept. 5 at 11 a.m. at Clarksville Greenwood Cemetery. Mudd-Veach Funeral Home of Silex is in charge of arrangements.
The only child of William W. Treadway, M.D. and Ada Carver Treadway, Martha was born in rural Clarksville on Aug. 31, 1902. She was a descendant of James Mackey who fought in the  Battle of Bunker Hill and is buried in Buffalo Cemetery near Louisiana.
She completed eight years at Cornith Grade School, usually riding her horse from her family's nearby farm to the one-room brick schoolhouse. After completing three years at Clarksville High School, all that was offered then, her parents sent her to Columbia for her fourth high school year at Stephens College and she graduated from college two years later in 1922 from Stephens.
On Oct. 19, 1927, she married Leon F. Gooch of Eolia at the farm home of her parents. They began housekeeping in Silex as Mr. Gooch had purchased The Enterprise Store there in 1925. She became a homemaker and assisted her husband at the store until it was sold by them in 1972. The couple lived in Silex or 50 years, later moving to a farm south of Troy. Leon Gooch died on Dec. 9, 1990.
Martha Gooch was the oldest living member of Ramsey Creek Baptist Church near Paynesville, having joined at an early age. The church hosted a 99th birthday celebration for her in 2001 and a church reception in 2002 honoring her on her birthday.
She was the oldest living member of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Pike County, having been approved for membership in the Pike County Charter on Dec. 2, 1927. In addition she had the longest years of services of any DAR member in the state of Missouri and was one the few oldest in terms of age and membership of all the national societies.
She was one of the few charter members of the Clarksville Sorosis Club which was organized in 1921 with 15 members. In Silex she was active in numerous civic organization including past matron of Silex Chapter 80 Order of the Eastern Star and the Federated Club. She served on the Democratic committee of Union Township in Lincoln County and the Lincoln County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.
She lived a life of service to others and was affectionately known to many as "Miss Martha". She and her husband cared for seven family members, taking many of them into their home through illnesses and disabilities.
Martha Gooch was highly respected and known for her independence and sense of humor to her many friends. In reflecting over the years at her 100th birthday celebration in Silex in 2002, she mused, "I've seen a lot and done a lot. I've been blessed, especially with health. My secret? Just keep busy and keep going!"